Winter Season at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Including Joffrey Ballet, Natalie Merchant and More, Goes On Sale 11/16

After a star-studded opening lineup with more than 125 shows in Reynolds Hall and nearly 250,000 patrons that have walked across the Fior de Pesco marble in the Grand Lobby, The Smith Center is proud to announce the anticipated lineup for the Winter Season running December through February.

The extensive roster of programming will boast many internationally acclaimed acts and Las Vegas firsts comprised of classical concerts, lectures, dance and various special attractions.

Tickets for individual shows begin at $18 and are on sale beginning Nov. 16 at The Smith Center Box Office, located at 361 Symphony Park Avenue, by phone at 702-749-2000 or 808- 326-6868 (TTY) and online at www.TheSmithCenter.com. For preferred seating and special rates for groups of 10 or more, contact 702-749-2348.

More information on the Winter Season below.

Danny Wright: Home for the HolidaysReynolds HallSunday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m.Ticket prices start at $18Danny Wright and special guests ring in the holiday season in the most spectacular way. The internationally-renowned artist performs favorites from his broad repertoire of traditional Christmas songs, classical works and music from Broadway & film on a nine-foot Steinway grand piano. Wright is one of few pianists who have mastered such a diverse range of styles and combined them with heartwarming grace.

JAZZ ROOTS: Vocalese featuring The Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices and Special Guest Jon HendricksThursday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m.Tickets prices start at $26Reynolds HallVocalese takes some of the best-known, most complex and sophisticated instrumental solos in jazz and treats them as melodies with swinging, poetic lyrics. This show brings together, for the first time, living legend Jon Hendricks, the originator of the Vocalese style, with the eight-time Grammy®-winning vocal group The Manhattan Transfer and New York Voices, an award-winning vocal ensemble known as one of the most important vocal groups in jazz today.

DRUMLINE LIVEFriday, Jan. 18 and Saturday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m.Ticket prices start at $24Reynolds HallDRUMLINE LIVE brings its fourth U.S. tour and energetic cast to The Smith Center in January 2013. The cast has honed its precision and percussion with years of training in marching bands across the southern U.S. The versatile group of musicians and dancers brings explosive beats and athleticism to the stage, expanding the marching band experience to audiences across the country. The group awes with contemporary hip hop, R&B, classic Motown and brass tradition.

The Joffrey Ballet Co-Presented by Nevada Ballet Theatre and The Smith CenterTuesday, Jan. 22 and Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m.Ticket prices start at $22Reynolds HallFounded in 1956 by visionary director and teacher Robert Joffrey and celebrated choreographer Gerald Arpino, The Joffrey Ballet proudly reflects the diversity of America with its varied repertoire and remains one of the most revered and recognizable arts organizations in the U.S. and around the globe. Now under the direction of Artistic Director Ashley C. Wheater and Executive Director Christopher Clinton Conway, The Joffrey Ballet presents “Le Sacre du Printemps” (The Rite of Spring) and other unique works at The Smith Center, exclusively sponsored by the E.L. Wiegand Foundation, bringing a world-class dance experience to Las Vegas.

Audi Speaker Series Presents Ray Kurzweil “How to Create a Mind”Sunday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m.Ticket prices start at $24Reynolds HallRay Kurzweil has been described as “the restless genius” by the Wall Street Journal and “the ultimate thinking machine” by Forbes. A leading inventor of our time, he was the principal developer of the first CCD flat-bed scanner, the first omni-font optical character recognition, the first print-to-speech reading machine for the blind, the first text-to-speech synthesizer, the first music synthesizer capable of recreating the grand piano and other orchestral instruments, and the first commercially marketed large-vocabulary speech recognition. Kurzweil will discuss all this and his latest book, “How to Create a Mind, The Secret of Human Thought Revealed.” Open-captioning is scheduled for this event. Tickets in the captioned section can be purchased online or by contacting the box office 702-749-2000 (voice) or 808- 326-6868 (TTY).

Natalie Merchant in Concert with OrchestraTuesday, Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m.Ticket prices start at $29Reynolds HallNatalie Merchant has earned a distinguished place among America's most respected recording artists as a prolific songwriter with a compelling artistic vision and a unique and captivating performance style. Going Platinum as the lead singer of the band 10,000 Maniacs, she helped define college rock and create the first wave of alternative bands. Now on her own, she has become a master of the folk song. Coming to The Smith Center on her world symphonic tour and featuring songs from her latest album, “Leave Your Sleep,” Natalie Merchant has “never sounded quite so right” said The Boston Globe.

KODOFriday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.Ticket prices start at $29Reynolds HallKODO, the legendary taiko drummers from Japan, bring the latest iteration of their ever-evolving One Earth Tour to North America. Titled “Legend,” the production was created under the direction of Japanese Living National Treasure Tamasaburo Bando – full of Japanese drums, music and stunning stagecraft. Called “musical perfection” by The Boston Globe, KODO brings to life a unique culture, four powerful seasons and the great beauty of the natural world.

JAZZ ROOTS: A Tribute to Ella, Joe and Basie featuring Janis Siegel, Kevin Mahogany and The Count Basie Orchestra with Special Guests Nikki Yanofsky and Nicole HenrySunday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m.Ticket prices start at $26Reynolds HallCount Basie’s music, characterized by a blues-steeped jumping beat and contrapuntal piano accents, was a showcase for top-singers. Jazz Roots honors two great singers whose performances with the Count have reached legendary proportions: Joe Williams, the Blues legend who called Las Vegas his home is represented by Down Beat Poll-winner Kevin Mahogany. Janis Siegel, Grammy winner and Manhattan Transfer vocalist extraordinaire, will pay tribute to the great Ella Fitzgerald.

BBC Concert OrchestraMonday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m.Ticket prices start at $39Reynolds HallThe BBC Concert Orchestra and Principal Conductor Keith Lockhart, well-known to American audiences as the music director of the famed Boston Pops Orchestra, will present a program of works by Walton, Haydn and Mendelssohn. They will be joined by cellist Sophie Shao for Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major. Famed for its versatility, the BBC Concert Orchestra performs regularly as part of London’s much-loved BBC “Proms” series and travels extensively throughout the world, presenting varied programs, including numerous world premieres by contemporary composers. The orchestra is also heard widely throughout the U.K. via weekly broadcasts on BBC Radio 2’s “Friday Night is Music Night” program.

Itzhak PerlmanWednesday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.Ticket prices start at $39Reynolds HallConsidered by many to be the world’s reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded by a classical musician. Beloved for his charm and humanity as well as his talent, he is treasured by audiences throughout the world who respond not only to his remarkable artistry, but also to the irrepressible joy of making music, which he communicates.

Paddy Moloney and The ChieftainsMonday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m.Ticket prices start at $29Reynolds HallSix-time Grammy® winners, The Chieftains, are recognized for bringing traditional Irish music to the world's attention. They have uncovered the wealth of this centuries-old music, making it their own with a style that is as exhilarating as it is definitive. They have performed with symphony and folk orchestras worldwide and have collaborated with some of the biggest names in rock, pop and traditional music in Ireland and around the globe. After half a century, The Chieftains remain as fresh and relevant as when they first began. They make their triumphant debut at The Smith Center, continuing the celebration of their 50th Anniversary in support of their album, “Voice of Ages.” Paddy Moloney, noted as “a musician of restless curiosity" by The New York Times, is sure to bring his special musician friends from around the world to celebrate this incredible night with them.